1
as in misrepresents
to give a misleading impression of
his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refutes
to prove to be false
the latest information belies the old theory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in conceals
to keep secret or shut off from view
the security council issued false assurances that belied the true gravity of the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belies
The texture, which belies its name, is more of a pudding consistency and a must on any sideboard.
—
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
If the Sixers’ fan base is panicking, if there are questions surrounding the team, the players have a calm about them that belies their situation.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Now, Germany and Austria have long been leaders in the sector, crafting Riesling and other aromatic whites whose complexity belies their ABV of around 11 percent or lower, and many styles of sparkling wine are naturally lighter than their dry counterparts.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet the small size belies its importance.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
His posture now belies a man who just spent a night in their custody as an alleged criminal.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
But its appearance belies its secret powers.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The San Jose Sharks rookie, playing with a poise that belies his age, scored Canada’s first goal of the tournament and leads the tournament with five goals.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
Kaplan and Jamshidi are riveting here, as Marlene’s coolly confident mask slips away and Joyce’s maternal persona belies a steely inner core.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
If the Sixers’ fan base is panicking, if there are questions surrounding the team, the players have a calm about them that belies their situation.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Now, Germany and Austria have long been leaders in the sector, crafting Riesling and other aromatic whites whose complexity belies their ABV of around 11 percent or lower, and many styles of sparkling wine are naturally lighter than their dry counterparts.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet the small size belies its importance.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
His posture now belies a man who just spent a night in their custody as an alleged criminal.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
But its appearance belies its secret powers.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The San Jose Sharks rookie, playing with a poise that belies his age, scored Canada’s first goal of the tournament and leads the tournament with five goals.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
Kaplan and Jamshidi are riveting here, as Marlene’s coolly confident mask slips away and Joyce’s maternal persona belies a steely inner core.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belies
Verb
-
To suggest otherwise is a fantasy that misrepresents the sophistication of Christian political thought during the Middle Ages – and in the present.—
Brett Whalen,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Nebraska became the latest state to sue Roblox on Wednesday, alleging that the popular gaming platform exploits children and misrepresents its safety practices.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Browsh refutes the idea the NFL chose Bad Bunny as a political stunt.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Data consistently refutes the idea that theaters and streaming are in a zero-sum battle for different audiences.—
Joseph M. Singer,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Irving used a durable Dekton countertop and Brown Jordan cabinetry that conceals appliances and stands up to the elements, as well as flexible seating arrangements and discreet storage to keep pillows and furniture covers tucked safely away.—
Megan Johnson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
-
But the late-Baroque facade of the building conceals a special, darker history, one that reflects persistent political and legal problems for the bank thousands of miles away, in the US.—
Hugo Miller,
Bloomberg,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Often, the design’s playfulness obscures the protagonist’s malaise.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The article unintentionally rewrites the sequence of events and obscures who actually pushed this conversation forward.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even that comparison hides a lot of pain headed for retirees under current law, Smetters said.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
This information is conveyed by a hilariously avant-garde Poulter, playing the store’s manager, who dyes his hair to match each monochromatic scheme and hides his nefariousness behind a company policy that requires techno music to be played at maximum volume at all times.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belies. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
